Just like your kids, your animals get sick and it can be extremely costly. However, just like health insurance, you can get pet insurance to help with the costs and the well-being of your animal! Pet insurance provides coverage for the cost of care resulting from accidental injuries or unexpected illnesses for your dogs, cats, and other household pets. Pet insurance is a monthly or yearly cost and can include the coverage of antibiotics determined by your specific plan if the pet is currently insured before the illness occurs. If your pet gets sick, prescription medication may be prescribed to help reduce inflammation, cure the infection and/ or alleviate pain. This could be covered by your pet insurance, although not all pet insurance providers cover the exam fees. Make sure to read through your plan thoroughly and ask questions that are unclear.
There are providers that have optional add-ons. An example of this may be prescription food and supplements. The vet may recommend these items for certain health complications. Some insurance companies will reimburse you for these products, or some may be an add-on.
Most pet insurance policies have a pre-existing condition; meaning some will allow for pre-existing conditions and some will not. It is best to get insurance for your loved animal right away when welcoming your new animal into your house. In some situations, if you choose to wait until they get older or start to have complications, this can result in a rejection claim. Make sure to read the fine print of pre-existing conditions and what each insurance company defines what that pre-existing condition is. This will eliminate financial binds in the future. When looking for a pet insurance provider, you should consider the following: coverage and price, experience and stability, and an easy claim submission. Its important to look for these things to make sure you pet insurance is in your budget, the provider has the experience and knowledge you are looking for, and that the process of the submission is clear and user friendly.
For an example, Nationwide insurance offers tiered packages and prices. With three packages, it allows you to choose which one is right for you and your pet. You can choose an emergency package, which includes accidents and illnesses, cancer, some hereditary conditions, and the access to use any vet including specialty and the ER. This package is the basic level, as it would not include a covered prescribed antibiotic for your animal. The highest tiered package is the only insurance that would cover the Rx therapeutic diets and supplements. This would also include alternative and holistic treatments.
Most pet insurances generally accept all pet insurance plans, but how you submit your claim can all range. You can spend as little as $10 or as much as $100 a month on your pet’s insurance. Different packages and different insurance companies would all range in what they offered and how they process each claim. Just like normal healthcare, there will be deductibles and annual policy caps.
Also Read: What Pet Insurance Do Vets Recommend?